Trashrack cleaner with self-driven cleaning unit

ABSTRACT

A carriage supporting a cleaning comb for a trashrack has a pinion driven by a reversible motor and engaging a generally vertical guide rack for reciprocation along a track having two parallel stretches which are interconnected by an upper and a lower loop. The carriage has a lead roller, moving up and down in the stretch remote from the trashrack to be cleaned, and a follower roller whose distance from the lead roller exceeds the spacing of the two stretches and which is so guided by the track as to move in a closed path, ascending in the stretch proximal to the trashrack and descending in the other stretch so that the carriage assumes different attitudes on ascending and descending. The comb mounted on the carriage stands clear of the trashrack when moving down but sweeps the trashrack when moving up, discharging the sweepings into a basin at the top of its stroke. The remote stretch has a spur, tangent to the upper loop, into which the lead roller can escape as the follower roller moves through that loop before descending, the mouth of this spur being obstructable by a deflecting lever having a curved edge for the guidance of the follower roller through the upper loop.

limited Sandier TRASHRACK CLEANER WITH SELF-DRIVEN CLEANING UNIT [76] Inventor: lKarl Sandler, Schuberstr. 7, 3100 Saint Polten, Austria [22] Filed: June 14, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 262,686

1 Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 109,199, Jan. 25,

1971, abandoned.

[52] US. Cl. 15/93 R, 210/158, 209/487 [51] int. Cl E021) 8/02 [58] Field of Search 15/93 R, 246, 4; 210/158; 126/173 [56] References Cited 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,930,485 3/1960 Nordell 210/158 2,804,209 8/1957 Carlton et a1 210/158 2,901,] 13 8/1959 Newell 210/158 Primary Examiner-Leon G. Machlin Att0rneyl(arl F. Ross [57] ABSTRACT A carriage supporting a cleaning comb for a trashrack has a pinion driven by a reversible motor and engaging a generally vertical guide rack for reciprocation along a track having two parallel stretches which are interconnected by an upper and a lower loop. The carriage has a lead roller, moving up and down in the stretch rcmote from the trashrack to be cleaned, and a follower roller whose distance from the lead roller exceeds the spacing of the two stretches and which is so guided by the track as to move in a closed path, ascending in the stretch proximal to the trashrack and descending in the other stretch so that the carriage assumes different attitudes on ascending and descending. The comb mounted on the carriage stands clear of the trashrack when moving down but sweeps the trashrack when moving up, discharging the sweepings into a basin at the top of its stroke, The remote stretch has a spur, tangent to the upper loop, into which the lead roller can escape as the follower roller moves through that loop before descending, the mouth of this spur being obstructable by a deflecting lever having a curved edge for the guidance of the follower roller through the upper loop.

10 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures l m; l 1- LI;

Patented Sept. 4, 1973 7 Sheets-Shaat l fl4A Patented Sept. 4, 1973 'T Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 4, 1973 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Sept. 4, 1973 eats-Sheet Patented Sept 4, H973 3,755,846

7 Shwets-Sheet 5 Patented Sept. 4, 1973 3,755,846

7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Sept. 4, 1973 3,755,846

7 Sheets-Sheet 7 FIG. FIG. /2 FIG. l3 H6. /4

TRASHRACK CLEANER WITH SELF-DRIVEN CLEANING UNIT This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 109,199 filed 25 January 1971 and now abandoned.

My present invention relates'to a trashrack cleaner usable to remove foreign bodies from a trashrack of a sewage installation, waterworks, or the like.

Generally, a trashrack cleaner comprises a cleaning member in the form of a comb and means to sweep this comb over a trashrack to clean it out. The trashrack is often constructed from a plurality of approximately vertical and parallel bars covering an opening in the side of a dam, sewage-treatment basin, or the like. The tines of the comb engage at least partially between the rack bars. The comb support can be provided with a motor having a pinion engaging a track-forming guide rack to reciprocate the comb along a more or less vertical path.

The general object of my present invention is to provide an improved trashrack cleaner of the abovedesc ribed type, having a self-driven cleaning unit, which is relatively simple in operation and has a minimum number of working parts prone to failure and subject to corrosion.

A more particular object is to provide a cleaner whose comb sweeps the associated trashrack only in one direction, preferably on the upstroke, and stays clear of the trashrack on the return stroke so as to minimize interference with the normal operation of the system.

These objects are realized, in conformity with my invention, by the provision of track means forming a closed path along the trashrack to be cleaned, this path having two closely spaced parallel stretches which are interconnected at their ends by respective loops. One of these stretches, referred to hereinafter as the ascending stretch, is closer to the trashrack than the other, referred to hereinafter as the descending stretch. The stretches are defined by a guide structure including track means, such as a guide rack extending at least along the descending stretch, engageable by a motordriven wheel on a comb-supporting carriage. This carriage is provided with two guide bodies in the form of rollers, sliders or the like which are in contact with the pathforming structure and are separated by a distance exceeding the spacing of the two stretches; the two terminal loops of the guide path are so shaped that upon reciprocation of one guide body (hereinafter referred to as the lead roller) in one of the stretches, specifically the descending one, the other guide body (hereinafter referred to as the follower roller) moves alternately in one and in the other stretch, specifically in the descending stretch during downward motion of the carriage and in the ascending stretch during upward motion. Thus, the carriage supported by these rollers assumes two distinct attitudes upon ascending and descending, the former being such that the tines of its comb penetrate between the bars of the trashrack and sweep same in a generally horizontal position so that the waste picked up by these tines is elevated above the trashrack to a point where it can be dumped into a basin for further disposition. On the subsequent descent, the two rollers share the same stretch and the comb is retracted from the vicinity of the trashrack.

In order to facilitate the return of the follower roller to the descending stretch after its upstroke, the guide structure forms a spur path in line with that stretch which extends beyond the upper loop, advantageously in tangential relationship therewith, to accommodate the lead roller in a terminal carriage position as the follower roller passes through the loop. In accordance with a more particular feature of my invention, the mouth of this spur is obstructable by a deflecting element such as a lever having a curved edge for the guidance of the follower roller through. the upper loop.

According to a further feature of the invention, the other (lower) loop is enlarged by :a divergence of the lower end of the descending stretch from the ascending stretch, in a direction away from the trashrack, to provide a terminal position for the carriage in which the follower body, having traversed that loop, will be constrained to ride up the ascending stretch upon reversal of the motion of the lead roller. For this purpose the loop may be joined to the two stretches by arcuate sections of like radius whose centers of curvature are separated by a distance equaling the distance between the two roller axes; in the lower terminal position of the carriage, these axes lie in a plane which includes the two centers of curvature.

The above and other features of my invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic elevational view of a trashrack cleaner according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the detail circled at II in FIG. ll;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a detail at the top of the structure shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view, on a larger scale, taken on the line lV--IV of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view, drawn to a still large scale, of a cable junction for supplying power to a drive motor of the cleaner;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view, also enlarged, taken on the line VIVI of FIG. 1 in an operative position of the comb carriage; and

FIGS. 7 14 are diagrammatic views illustrating different carriage positions in an entire operating cycle.

The apparatus according to the present invention is used to prevent foreign bodies from blocking a trashrack 12 (FIGS. ll, 2, and 6) which covers an opening 25 in a dam or the like. The trashrack 12 is formed by a plurality of parallel upright bars 12a each welded above a base 119 to a substantially triangular plate 19 that extends directly upstream, against the direction of flow A, under the water level W.

A cleaning member in the form of a comb 111 has stiffly resilient tines or teeth engaging at least partially between the bars 12a so that any foreign body lodged therein can be removed. This comb 11 is fused to a rod 11a extending between two essentially identical carriages 26.

Flanking the trashrack 12 are a pair of parallel confronting elongated guide plates 27 of heavy steel (see FIGS. 4 and 6) which are received in a pair of confronting channels 28 in dam 120. These plates 27 alone re main under the surface of the water at all times. Riding on each plate 27 via a plurality of circumferentially grooved rollers 30 is a guide beam 29. The rollers 36) are arranged in two parallel rows so that they embrace the plate 27 while allowing the beam 29 to be pulled out of the water, in the direction indicated by arrow B (FIG. I), for inspection or replacement.

The guide beams 29 are formed with symmetrical endless guide paths each constituted by two substantially parallel channels 5 and 6 joined by a loop 4 at their lower ends and by a loop 3 at their upper ends. Running along the inner edge of the guide path is a lantern rack l, 2 formed by a set of equispaced parallel rungs 31 each set at one end of the beam 29 and at its other end in a boot-shaped plate 32 paralleling same. A cover plate 33 overhangs the channel 28 and is formed with a central opening 34 which has its periphery spaced from the plate 32 by the same distance all around this plate. The entrance of forcing bodies into the track I, 2 is thereby largely avoided.

Each carriage 26 is provided with a pair of parallel shafts on which are journaled a lead roller 7 and a follower roller 8 spaced apart by a distance D equal to around 1.5d, d being the center spacing of the stretches 5 and 6 of the path 3 6.

The guide-path stretch 6 deviates from the trashrack or grate 12 at the lower loop 4, imparting a boot-like shape to the path 3, 4, 5, 6. This deviation causes the bomb to sweep between the plates 19 like a scoop, removing matter caught at the grate 12 or accumulated in front thereof. The upper edges 19a of the plates 19 run substantially parallel to and within the path of the tips of comb 11 shown by a broken line L in FIG. 2. This path rises above the grate 12 close to a surface 120a of dam 120 whereby matter combed out from between the plates 19 and the bars 12a is entrained upwardly along that surface and, since both stretches 5 and 6 are curved toward the horizontal above the top of the dam, the charge is dumped into a basin 20 provided with an access door 20a. The top of dam surface 120a is curved to conform to the path of the comb 11 above the grate 12 so that none of the matter combed out of this grate falls back into the water.

The descending stretch 5 is provided at its upper end with a spur path 18 (FIGS. 1 and 3) which is adapted to receive the lead roller 7 and extends generally horizontally and tangentially away from the upper guidepath loop 3. A two-arm lever 16, 17 pivoted at 15 directly between the loop 3 and the stretch 5 has two positions respectively illustrated in solid and phantom lines in FIG. 3. Its arm 16, including an obtuse angle with arm 17, is cammed by the rising lead roller 7 into the solid-line position as that roller continues outwardly into spur 18, the other arm 17 then blocking the mouth 18a of this spur and forming by its curved edge 17a a continuation of the outer wall of the loop for the guidance of the follower roller 8 into stretch 5. Upon the subsequent descent of roller 7, arm 17 is cammed into the alternate (phantom-line) position which it maintains until this roller retums on the next ascent, its beveled end 17b coming to rest against the inner loop wall. A web 35 formed with an arcuate slot 36 traversed by a fixed pin 37 is secured to the arm '16 to define the two limiting positions of the lever 16, 17 in which it may be held by friction or by a toggle spring not shown.

In FIG. 2 I have shown in solid lines the position of rollers 7, 8 moving upwardly in stretches 5 and 6, respectively, and in broken lines the position of these rollers (together with that of the carriage 26) at the end of the downward motion of the carriage during which both rollers descend in stretch 5. The common axial plane of the rollers extends in the direction of the channel stretches during this downward motion (line P) and includes an acute angle of about 40 with that direction on the upstroke (line P), the sine of this angle being given by d/D and being therefore equal to substantially 0.67. Comb 11 lies in a plane represented by a line 0 or O which is perpendicular to the track 5, 6 in the rising position (solid lines) and which therefore includes an angle of about 130 with line P or P. With the track sloping at an angle of approximately to the horizontal H, the angle included between lines H and P in the rising position is approximately 65.

As will be apparent from the foregoing description, a further descent of roller 7 along stretch 5 from the brokenline position of FIG. 2 drives the roller 8 around loop 4 into stretch 6 so that the comb 11 moves counterclockwise along the path I... When the rollers reach a position (phanton lines) in which their axial plane substantially coincides with a line P" passing through the centers of curvature O and 0 of the bent lower ends of stretches 5 and 6, a reversal of the motion of roller 7 entrains the roller 8 upwardly with the comb I l maintaining its nearly horizontal attitude until the carriage arrives at the upper end of its straight run. The return of roller 8 to the stretch 5 for downward travel than takes place in the manner described above.

The spacing of centers 0 and 0 substantially equals the distance D between the roller axes, the curved path sections having substantially the same radii r and r, on the concave side as well as R,, R on the convex side of the guide path. It will be apparent that roller 8 hugs its outer guide surface (radius R during the terminal stage of the descent of roller 7 and then engages its inner guide surface (radius r during the initial stage of the ascent. This switchover from one guide surface to another (although their spacing barely exceeds the roller diameter) explains the fact that follower roller 8 continues on its way while lead roller 7 doubles back on its course.

In FIGS. 7 14 I have illustrated an entire cycle of carriage displacement, starting (FIG. 7) at an intermcdiate point in the upstroke of the carriage 26 in which its comb 71 is substantially horizontal and sweeps the trashrack 12 which has not been shown in these Figures. Rollers 7 and 8 rise in stretches 5 and 6, respectively, to the curved upper end of the path (FIG. 8) in which the comb 11 dumps its load into the basin 20 of FIG. 1. FIG. 9 shows the lead roller 7 entering the spur 18, with reversal of deflecting lever 16, 17 whereby roller 8 is prevented from following the roller 7 into the spur 18 in a terminal position (FIG. W) in which the plane of the roller axes passes through the center of curvature of loop 3. In that position, again, the follower roller 8 switches from its outer to its inner guide surface and continues on its way as the motion of lead roller 7 is reversed; deflector 16, I7, while useful to smooth the carriage movement, is not indispensable for this kind of guidance. FIG. 11 shows the beginning descent of the carriage, with lead roller 7 leaving the spur 18. FIG. 12 depicts an intermediate stage in the descent whereas FIG. 13 shows the lower terminal position indicated in phantom lines in FIG. 2. FIG. 14, finally, illustrates the beginning ascent, with rollers 7 and 8 again riding in different stretches.

FIGS. 1, 2, and 6 show how each carriage 26 is provided with an electric motor 10 carrying a star-wheel pinion 38 which engages the rungs 3B of lantern rack ll, 2 to drive its carriage around the guide path 3-6. The star wheels 38 are mounted coaxially with the rollers 8 which only move up and down along the outer rack half 1. The motors 10 are synchronized by means of a common shaft 9 passing through the comb carrier 11a. Only one motor 10 is strictly necessary, two being provided for better weight distribution.

FIG. 5 shows the manner in which an electric powersupply supply cable 21 for motor 10 is connected between a nonillustrated power source and the cleaning unit. A right-angle elbow 23 has a leg 23a whose end is threaded to allow a clamping cup 39 carrying a flexible rubber sheath 22 to be screwed over a washer 40 and a three-part cone seal 1 to ensure a watertight entrance of the cable 21. The other leg 23b of this elbow is journaled in the carriage 28 at 44 so that some rotation of the elbow 23 about an axis C is possible. The carriage 26 is provided with a strut 24 which holds the roller 7 centered on the axis C to keep twisting and bending of the cable 21 to a minimum.

The cable 21 is stretched over a pulley 42 and rollers 45, 46 (FIG. 1) and, loaded by a counterweight (not shown), hangs into a well 43. This counterweight may have a weight of 30 kilograms to keep the cable taut. Since the roller 7 merely goes up and down the stretch 5, little bending of the cable 21 takes place so that wear is minimized. Moreover, this cable is almost fully protected in the channel 28 from which it emerges at the top. Two such cables can be provided, one for each motor 10.

I claim:

1. A trashrack cleaner comprising:

track means fonning a closed path along a trashrack to be cleaned, said path having two closely spaced parallel stretches interconnected at their ends by respective loops;

a support provided with a first and a second guide body spaced apart by a distance greater than the spacing of said stretches, said guide bodies engaging said track means for movement therealong;

a cleaning member mounted on said support and adapted to remove foreign matter from said trashrack;

drive means mounted on said support and including a wheel engageable with said track means for reciprocating said first guide body in one stretch of said path with entrainment of said second guide body alternately in said one stretch during movement in one direction and in the other stretch during movement in the oppoiste direction whereby said cleaning member assumes different attitudes on moving in said one and in said opposite direction; and

guide means forming a spur in line with said one stretch extending beyond one of said loops for receiving said first guide body in a terminal position of said support upon said second guide body reaching the end of said other stretch, thereby enabling said second guide body to clear said one of said loops for re-entry into said one stretch.

2. A cleaner as defined in claim 1, further comprising a deflecting element at a mouth of said spur engageable by said first guide body upon entry into said mouth for blocking said mouth and positively directing said second guide body to said one stretch.

3. A cleaner as defined in claim 2 wherein said deflecting element is a lever with arms including an obtuse angle with each other, one of said arms having a curved edge for engagement by said second guide body during movement thereof to said one stretch.

4. A cleaner as defined in claim 1 wherein said stretches have ends diverging from each other at the other of said loops.

5. A cleaner as defined in claim 1 wherein said parallel stretches are generally vertical, said one of said loops being located at the top'of said path.

6. A cleaner as defined in claim 5 wherein said one stretch lies farther from said trashrack than said other stretch, said cleaning member being a comb assuming a nearly horizontal trashrack-engaging attitude during upward movement of said support with said second guide body in said other stretch.

7. A cleaner as defined in claim 6 wherein said one stretch curves away at its lower end from said other stretch and from the trashrack adjoining the latter.

8. A cleaner as defined in claim 1 wherein said first guide body is a roller, said track means comprising a rack extending along said one stretch, said wheel being a pinion coaxial with said roller engaging said rack.

9. A cleaner as defined in claim. 8 wherein said drive means comprises an electric motor provided with a supply cable, said support being provided with retaining means for said cable including; a tubular elbow having a leg in line with the axis of said roller.

10. A cleaner as defined in claim 9 wherein said leg is journaled for rotation about said axis. 

1. A trashrack cleaner comprising: track means forming a closed path along a trashrack to be cleaned, said path having two closely spaced parallel stretches interconnected at their ends by respective loops; a support provided with a first and a second guide body spaced apart by a distance greater than the spacing of said stretches, said guide bodies engaging said track means for movement therealong; a cleaning member mounted on said support and adapted to remove foreign matter from said trashrack; drive means mounted on said support and including a wheel engageable with said track means for reciprocating said first guide body in one stretch of said path with entrainment of said second guide body alternately in said one stretch during movement in one direction and in the other stretch during movement in the oppoiste direction whereby said cleaning member assumes different attitudes on moving in said one and in said opposite direction; and guide means forming a spur in line with said one stretch extending beyond one of said loops for receiving said first guide body in a terminal position of said support upon said second guide body reaching the end of said other stretch, thereby enabling said second guide body to clear said one of said loops for re-entry into said one stretch.
 2. A cleaner as defined in claim 1, further comprising a deflecting element at a mouth of said spur engageable by said first guide body upon entry into said mouth for blocking said mouth and positively directing said second guide body to said one stretch.
 3. A cleaner as defined in claim 2 wherein said deflecting element is a lever with arms including an obtuse angle with each other, one of said arms having a curved edge for engagement by said second guide body during movement thereof to said one stretch.
 4. A cleaner as defined in claim 1 wherein said stretches have ends diverging from each other at the other of said loops.
 5. A cleaner as defined in claim 1 wherein said parallel stretches are generally vertical, said one of said loops being located at the top of said path.
 6. A cleaner as defined in claim 5 wherein said one stretch lies farther from said trashrack than said other stretch, said cleaning member being a comb assuming a nearly horizontal trashrack-engaging attitude during upward movement of said support with said second guide body in said other stretch.
 7. A cleaner as defined in claim 6 wherein said one stretch curves away at its lower end from said other stretch and from the trashrack adjoining the latter.
 8. A cleaner as defined in claim 1 wherein said first guide body is a roller, said track meAns comprising a rack extending along said one stretch, said wheel being a pinion coaxial with said roller engaging said rack.
 9. A cleaner as defined in claim 8 wherein said drive means comprises an electric motor provided with a supply cable, said support being provided with retaining means for said cable including a tubular elbow having a leg in line with the axis of said roller.
 10. A cleaner as defined in claim 9 wherein said leg is journaled for rotation about said axis. 